by Pat Raia
New Canadian horse processing regulations could slow the flow of U.S. horses to slaughter plants there, say equine welfare advocates.
Jerry Finch, Founder and President of Habitat for Horses
Last month the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) advised all Canadian owners of horses that could be sold for processing to keep detailed records of their equines’ vaccinations, medications, and illnesses (see their statement). The information will be necessary beginning July 31 when all horses processed in Canadian plants must be free of chemical substances banned by European Union (EU) food inspection regulations. Undocumented horses brought to slaughter in Canada will be quarantined for six months.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs phenylbutazone (“Bute”) and flunixin (Banamine), and sedative acepromazine are among the banned drugs.
Canada is a major destination for slaughter-bound horses from the United States since state actions eliminated horse processing in 2007. According to CFIA records, 56% of the 93,812 horses processed in Canada in 2009 were imported from the United States.
Horses sent to Canada for processing will be subject to the new inspection requirements. However, the United States has no jurisdiction to require U.S.-based exporters to comply with Canadian health inspection rules.
Equine welfare advocate Jerry Finch said the new regulations will increase horse processing costs in Canada.
“All these measures will make all the operations harder and more costly for all the (Canadian) plants,” said Finch, president of Habitat for Horses Inc. “This may eventually mean the final nail in the slaughter plants’ coffin as far as Canada and the U.S. is concerned.”
However Montana State Senator Ed Butcher said he believes the new rules will give traction to his initiative to establish horse processing facilities in his state. Last year, Montana enacted a law prohibiting state courts from granting injunctions designed to stop or delay construction of horse slaughter or processing facilities in that state (read more).
Since then, Butcher has been negotiating with Asian investors interested in locating horse processing plants in Montana. He believes the new rules will boost investor interest in Montana plant development.
“The more they put the hassle on in Canada, the better position we’re in,” he said.
Whether the Canadian rules will boost U.S. exports to Mexican processing plants is uncertain, said John Holland of the Equine Welfare Alliance. Two major processing plants in that country also provide horsemeat for European markets, and will eventually have to meet EU standards. Failure to do so could stem the flow of horsemeat from that country into Europe.
Some equine welfare advocates also believe stricter foreign inspection rules will fast track passage of HR 503 and SB 727, which would prohibit the export of U.S. horses for slaughter.
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Categories: Horse News, Horse Slaughter
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Don’t know about other Asian countries, but I have some strong opinions about China.
Chinese manufacturers put melamine in products that poisoned our pets. They make children’s jewelry with toxic metals, and use lead paint on toys. They even poisoned and killed their own babies with tainted formula.
China is such a closed society people may never know what they’re eating, and I don’t imagine officials will make it public.
If I wasn’t an ethical person, and this didn’t involve horses, I might be tempted to say, “Let ’em have it.”
Payback’s a … female dog!
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I’m hoping any investors from “Asian countries” does not include China. Our country is becoming beholden to China for financial assistance. Its no wonder they are allowed to get away with certain “short-cuts” when it comes to consumer safety. There is ultimately a higher price to be paid for cheap products imported to the U.S.
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About time the slaughter of horses was stopped entirely.
If Europe insists on carrying on the consumption of horse meat, they should so with their own horses and we should not be supplying their needs.
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While making things more difficult for shipping horses to Canada, or opening the possibilities of another slaughter plant in Montana, don’t forget, Mexico could care less WHAT drugs may be in the horses systems, and they won’t be shut down for any possible reasons we may come up with. They have no sympathy for the horses that they are now killing and with some of the undercover videos taken, they are extremely cruel and proud of it. So before horns are tooted, or parades begun, remember that Mexico STILL slaughters horses…………….
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I find this amazing. What is done with the slaughterd horses in Canada? Is this for human consumption?
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